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W. H. REIFF. APPARATUS FOR GAMES.

,686. Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WVILLIAM H. REIFF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO CHARLES H. HAENTZE, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR GAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,686, dated December 3, 1889.

Application filed May 2, 1,889. Serial No.309,35l- (No model.)

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. REIFF, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Games, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for games; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forthin the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form apart thereof.

It is the object of my invention to construct an apparatus for the purpose of playing games which shall-afford a large amount of amusement to the player, as well as call forth the exercise of considerable skill.

In carrying out my invention I employ a perfectly level board, upon which a number of rolling obj ects-such as marbles or balls are supported. These marbles or balls are caused to roll in certain directions and into certain positions by manipulating the board and without touching the rolling objects.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same on the line 00 a:

of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagonal sectional View through the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of one of the balls or rolling objects employed, and Fig. 5 is a diagonal sectional View through the line Z Z of Fig. 1.

i A is a perfectly flat board, which may be square, as shown, or round, or polygonal, or of any desired shape.

B is an upwardly-extending rim about the edge of the board to prevent the rolling objects from falling from it.

C are upwardly-extending pieces secured to the surface of the board A, substantially at its center, and forming open compartments, leavinga surrounding open space. I prefer to arrange these pieces 0 in the manner shown in the drawings, in the shape of a cross, forming the four angular compartments E, which may be painted or marked in the manner shown to indicate resting-places for the rolling objects.

D are painted or otherwise indicated marks I upon the board for the rolling objects or marbles, preferably arranged at the four corners, as shown.

F are the rolling objects or marbles, which I prefer to construct with a flattened or cutaway portion f, so that the marble, when it is brought into any desired spot upon the board A, will more fixedly remain there if the flattened portion f is in contact with the Slll'f face A.

G is a hoop or grate arranged in any convenient position upon the board A. I

The object of the game is to cause the man bles to roll into certain positions withoutmanipulating them in any way, except by moving the board A or changing its inclination.

It is apparent thatmany variations may be introduced into the games played upon this apparatus, and that any number of marbles F may be used. If desired, the shape and arrangement of the pieces 0 may be va- 'ried, though I prefer to arrange them substantially as shown, meeting at a point at the center of the board and forming a compartment for each marble used.

Supposing four marbles are used, placed upon the four spots D, the object will be to cause these four marbles to move from the spots D and to rest one upon each of the spots E in the compartments formed by the pieces 0, and they may again be caused to move back to the spots D. Each marble may be given a particular spot D and E, which may be indicated by colors or by numbers corresponding to the color or number of the marble. They may also be made to roll successively through the hoop G, and, if desired, more than one hoop may be used.

When a marble is moved to a desired position, it may be caused to rest there more readily by bringing the flattened part f in contact with the board A; but it is apparent that rolling objects F may be used withou the flattened portions. 1

While I prefer the details of construction which are here shown, I do not limit my invention to them, as it is apparent that they may be varied in many ways without departing from the principles of it.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a game apparatus, a flat surface having bounding walls, and a central structure formed of a series of radial walls extending from a central point outwardly toward but not reach ing the bounding Walls, whereby there is formed a series of angular compartments grouped at the center and open at their outer ends, which are, made communicating to constitute a continuous passage-way around the said compartments, in combination with a series of spherical objects or balls.

2. The combination, in a game apparatus, of a flat supporting-surface having a number of upwardly-extending radial pieces secured thereto and meeting in a common center, forming a series of adjacent compartments, a

, loop or arch upon said board, and one or more rolling objects adapted to be moved from one compartment to another and through said arch.

3. In a game apparatus, a flat surface having bounding walls, and a central structure formed of a series of radial walls extending from a central point outwardly toward but WILLIAM H. REIFF.

WVitnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, O. H. HAENTZEi 

